Justin Trudeau skips P.E.I. on Atlantic Canada visit

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's cross-country tour of town-hall style events made its way to Atlantic Canada early this week but after visits to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, Trudeauleft withoutsetting foot inPrince Edward Island.

• Justin Trudeau faces anger in N.B. over troubled payroll system
• Young and old turn out for Justin Trudeau's town hall in Dartmouth

Scheduling, timing

Wayne Easter, Liberal MP for Malpeque, said it is "great to see" the prime minister travel across most of the country to meet directly with Canadians and hear their concerns.

With respect to P.E.I., he said the province wasn't part of the tour because of "scheduling" and "timing."

"He's getting to the areas he can. He was in Prince Edward Island last year during Old Home Week and met people on the ground at that time," he said.

• Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visits P.E.I.

Easter said he doesn't think that passing over P.E.I. sends a message toIslanders that the province is insignificant.

"I do think people understand [that] he can't be everywhere. He's not going to be in all the provinces, that I'm aware of."

Easter added that some of the issues raised in Dartmouth, N.S., are similar to those that might have been raised on the Island.

He also said there will likely be other opportunities in the future for Islanders to speak directly with the prime minister.

• MORE P.E.I. NEWS |'It's disheartening': Owner of stolen ATMs on P.E.I. offers $500 reward
• MORE P.E.I. NEWS |Souris loses a family doctor just months after her arrival